Morality in Politics Essay

People are forced to face moral challenges in making day-to-day decisions. When it comes to benefitting individual and societal good, the great question of politics is raised: what is the right thing to do? In Sophocles’ Antigone, there is a dilemma whether to abide by the laws of the gods above the laws of the state. Antigone makes a decision that not only affects her future but the future of the state under her uncle’s rule. Antigone gains a high moral sense in that she followed the laws of the gods and therefore did the morally right choice going against state laws, either case can be deemed as morally correct. In this essay it will be argued that citizens should be free to disobey state laws when conscience dictates. Sophocles’ play enacts the moral conflict of power between the laws of the gods and the laws of state. He presents the reader with a dilemma involving religious rituals passed down in the family and a new law passed by a ruler of the state. Antigone and her uncle, Creon, have a different set of values. Creon, the ruler of Thebes, values the constant order of the state and the public good. Antigone values family and religion, and views these commitments as superior to the laws imposed by her uncle. She claims, there is an â€Å"unchangeable unwritten code of Heaven,† (Sophocles, Antigone, 17) and she decides to act against the laws of her uncle to fulfill the laws of the gods, by giving her brother a proper burial ritual against Creon’s will. Antigone considers her uncle’s laws as sacrilege. Creon thought that his decision would bring stability to his state, as he claimed that â€Å"by corruption few men thrive and many come to mischief,† (Sophocles, Antigone, 12). Creon places the ‘polis’ above family and religious values and disregards the values that Antigone holds sacred. Sophocles positions Antigone as being the heroine of the play and allows her to justify her decisions, with the taking of her own life Antigone made a statement and accentuates the power she held and that Creon lacked. In the end, Creon is left with feelings of regret and no family, thus punished by the gods for not abiding by their laws. Antigone believed that her rights were not given to her by Creon but rather given to her by the gods. She was only doing what she thought was morally right. Antigone is a religious being and clearly values the gods higher than the state; she is willing to face the consequences. Antigone was willing to â€Å"meet with nothing more grievous, at the worst, than death, with honour,† (Sophocles, Antigone, 4) she courageously fulfilled her duties as a religious being. Many people would applaud Antigone’s bravery, for any private interest should be allowed to challenge the public good. In doing so, I believe that those private interests could eventually turn into a public interest. In the play, a prophet visits Creon to warn him of the consequences that have been brought about from his unjust laws. If it had not have been for Antigone publicly objecting to Creon’s law, it would probably not have been such a big issue that brought the concern of others. Antigone allowed for others to question Creon’s law and debate if it is morally right to go against the laws of the gods. Publicly refusing to follow a law brings attention to an issue that otherwise would have been ignored. One great example in our society is during the Civil Rights era; Martin Luther King Jr. ’s actions brought great attention to the issue of racial segregation. He believed that it was right to openly break a law that was not supposed to be a law at all. His actions although non-violent broke many laws that were made to impede success among the African American population in the U. S. He believed that by publicly and consciously breaking the law exposes brutality and promotes participation. In doing so, the people against the law were perceived as being brave and those watching were forced to question what was just. When issues become public and catch the interest of the majority of the people in the ‘polis’, the government is forced to do something about it. Creon responded with a stern and much too harsh punishment that led to the death of his niece, son and wife but if Antigone would not have contested his law he could have eventually reached complete domination of political power. The general population supported Antigone but they were too afraid to say anything until they finally felt that something must be done. Creon was running a totalitarian government and was corrupting the state. He was unable to see how unjust his law was until others brought it to his attention and tried to convince him that his use of power was wrong. Antigone’s defying actions instilled courage in the people to also speak against their ruler. It might be objected that when someone disobeys state laws whenever their conscience dictates they are only helping themselves, the person breaking the law is not thinking about the common good but rather fulfilling their own good or promoting anarchy. Civil disobedience may seem reasonable when we consider Martin Luther King Jr. ’s situation but it may not always be driven with good intentions. By disobeying, regardless of good or bad intentions, they are hurting the stability of the state. Creon argues, â€Å"Obedience is due to the state’ officer in small and great, just and unjust commandments†¦ (Sophocles, Antigone, 26). † Creon did not bother to judge his laws as just or unjust, he simply did what he considered was good for the state. It is thought that if people continue to please themselves in breaking the laws of the state that they will eventually break every law and lose all respect for the state. Civil disobedience may not always serve the public good and only serve to undermine order. Breaking a law weakens the state and it’s order, it promotes anarchy and disrespects authority. It should not be encouraged or tolerated. It is a civic virtue to abide by the laws of the state it is what leads to its success and stability. By breaking the law Antigone was faced with death, she claimed that she was honoring the gods and that they would honor her in the end. But one must question if honor is worth the permanence of death. Many people feel so strongly about their opinions that they are wiling to die just as Antigone did in Sophocles’ play. One notable person in history is Socrates; he willingly faced all punishments administered to him. He claimed to have had a contract with his state of Athens that obliged him to accept punishments for taking advantage of the state in the first place. This shows that even though Socrates may have broken some law, he still held respect for the state. Not every person that breaks a law is completely recalcitrant. Like Socrates, those who fight for civil rights and follow what they believe to be morally correct are aware of their wrongdoings and make it a statement when they finally submit to the law. They are submitting to punishments even if they are deemed unjust only to prove to the state that their morals are important and can withstand any punishment. In facing moral challenges one is often forced to face it is always difficult to decipher what is right and what is wrong. Everyone has different values and obligations. Here, Antigone’s values outweighed Creon’s overwhelmingly unjust laws. One must always question what is more important and find a balance between the two. Civil disobedience is allowed when the conscience dictates in situations that lead to a greater good. Not all private interests are egocentric some may also reflect the interest of the general population. Antigone, although harshly punished just as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Socrates were as well, have all rose among the common people and proved to be great. They encompassed a passion and bravery for their beliefs that was able to attract attention to conflicts in the law. Without their brave actions the state would not have been open to change and reach a new level of stability.

Shoplifting and Its Effect on Society

Shoplifting and its effect on society. Shoplifting seems like a victimless crime, but the damages caused are far from minor. I myself was recently caught shoplifting, and now I need to pay for the consequences of my crime. There are many reasons why people shoplift, it can be a obsessive compulsion disorder (OCD) all the way to a dare from a friend, either way Shoplifting does not only affect the individual, but it also affects the community, the retailer, and the consumer.Shoplifting affects not only me but my family as well. I feel embarrassed and worthless yet if I felt like that. â€Å"Why did I do it in the first place? † Because shoplifting is tempting, the shoplifter thinks they’re getting the product for free. But the truth is that someone has to pay for our mistake, thus price rises and the community has to pay. And some stores could even go bankrupt because of shoplifting. It is unfair to people who do not shoplift to pay for the mistakes that shoplifters make .People in the community who are not as wealthy as others have a harder time paying for their food and needs, and when they feel they can’t afford spending too much money at a certain retail store they will have to go to another destination to shop, causing a great inconvience to them and also the retail store will be losing money and might even close down in the future. We also suffer on a personal level, when an employee who realizes an item has been stolen from their store. They often feel violated, and when they feel violated it causes them to lose trust in others.So store employee follow potential merchants, watching their every move, making potential merchants uneasy and guilty when they are innocent. As there is no ‘look’ of a shoplifter, there is no way to identify whether a person is going to shoplift or not. And thus trust is lost between the merchant and the retailer. Resulting in an uncomfortable environment to shop in. Only about three percent of sho plifters are professionals. The rest of the shoplifters, shoplift as a response to experiencing stress in their personal lives.I myself am an immigrant from Singapore I just moved to Canada last year and a lot has happened since then. I survived being poor and unsatisfying for a year, so â€Å"why did I shoplift? † part of me believes that it is because I’m poor and I just wanted something, but part of me believes that it also because of what I’m going through a lot of stress and I feel depressed at times. Its like I need to fill up a hole in me. I thought shoplifting would make me feel better but the truth is you will lose all self-confidence in yourself.You become even more depressed and emotional you start to feel as if you don’t deserve a lot of things, or that others are better than you. Shoplifting has broken up many families and friends, the distrust and the disappointment they have when they look at you will consume you and soon you yourself will change. I was fortunate that my mother was very understanding and offered to help me out of my depression. She did admitted her disappointment in me but she told me I am still a good person.That made me realized that as a individual we belong to a community, and we make up what the community will become, each of us play a role to become someone bigger than themselves. When someone does well another will also want to do well. We could start by doing community work and volunteering at places that need our help. Helping others can without a doubt make you feel better about yourself, shoplifting will only make that empty feeling deeper as you start to feel guilty and worthless that others are better than you for not shoplifting. You’ll feel like the bad guy.Nowadays people not only shoplift, but steal and con others of their money this is because people who becomes thieves usually starts as shoplifters at a young age. Shoplifting when young can often lead to becoming thieves and robbers in the future. In fact ninety percent of convicts admitted that they have shoplifted before in their teenage years or younger. Statistics shows that there is an average of twenty-seven million shoplifters in the United States of America alone, which equates to one person in eleven, and only ten million have been caught within the past five years.Kids make up twenty-five percent of shoplifter; adults, seventy-five percent. People have been doing this for a long time because fifty-five percent of adults claim they began to shoplift as teenagers, and when asked, seventy-three percent of adults and seventy-two percent of juveniles do not plan to shoplift, it just an act of impulse. And also, an astonishing eighty-nine percent of kids say they know of other kids who shoplift and sixty-six percent say they associate with them. And only three percent of shoplifters are professionals, but they make up 10 percent of the item they sell.Some even after being caught in the act, fifty-se ven percent of adults and thirty-three percent of juveniles say it is difficult to stop even after being caught. Habits are hard to break, shoplifting becomes an addiction and you try to stop but you just can’t. And when you reach that point statistics show that habitual shoplifters steal at least two times a week. So when I got caught on my first time I’m grateful for it, for without it I might have become addicted to shoplifting or worse wanted to make it my professional career. Shoplifting is illegal and is a punishable crime by law.It is not a small crime whether you stole fifty dollars worth of items or ten dollars worth of items. The crime is the same you have shoplifted from the store, and stolen something that doesn’t belong to you. For example, you can be arrested and paraded through a store in handcuffs, banned from stores or malls, and you may even end up with a criminal record. If you get a criminal record especially when you are young people will tr eat you like an ex-convict, it’ll be harder to get a job, get into college, or anything else that need a criminal background check. Which is mostly everything.Shoplifting can ruin your life but remember even without getting caught can shoplifting also ruin your life, as I have already stated that shoplifting affects you emotionally the same thing applies here you lose your self-respect and your respect for others. Small crime doesn’t mean no crime. Responsibilty for your family, friends and the people surrounding you, there are people that look up, like you’re their role model. I myself have siblings and I hope very much they don’t follow in my footsteps; I have never done anything that would cause people to lose their faith and respect in me.It is my responsibilty to set a good role model for my younger siblings. Also you as an individual have a responsibility as a civilent to be a good role model to the community. Never think that there is no one watchi ng you, there is always someone watching and looking up to you in respect if you’ve done the right things. Respect is something you earn not given. By shoplifting you are openly disrespecting the community and although you may not notice now, but you are also disrespecting yourself. When you shoplift you are disrespecting the community by

Anetial Market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Anetial Market - Essay Example Inflation is a measure of changes in prices over a specified period and the objective of the monetary policy is to set the interest rate so that inflation can be brought back to target within a reasonable duration. Bank rate is therefore an essential tool used by the Bank of England to control the inflation rate. When Bank believes inflation is beginning to rise, it raises interest rates to cool the economy and vice versa. However this formula has many exceptions as proved by the recent rate cuts by the Bank of England. Although factory gate inflation (based on prices of good leaving factory) reached a 16 year high in December 2007 influenced by rising oil and food prices and CPI stood at 2.1 %, the Bank still went ahead with rate cut. It is interesting to understand why. Although bank rate is used as a tool to control inflation, it is first important to understand that there are different ways of measuring inflation. The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) and Retail Prices Index (RPI) are used in UK to measure inflation and usually have separate values. This is because of the difference in goods and services they cover and the method of calculation. The Government inflation target, which is currently 2%, is based on CPI. ... aper the most important difference that needs to be considered is that CPI does not include certain housing costs, such as mortgage interest payments. The reasons for the rate cut was not a isolated decision by the Bank of England but was influenced by the crisis in the global financial market as a result of what has now come to be known as subprime mortgage crisis. Subprime is the general term used to refer to lending to borrowers who do not normally qualify for standard market rates for various reasons such bad credit history or lack of stable income. Obviously these borrowers are a greater risk to the financial institutions. For many years, Cleveland in America was the major market for the sub-prime lenders where the brokers informed the residents that they could obtain cash by refinancing their homes, "but often neglected to properly explain that the new sub-prime mortgages would reset after 2 years at double the interest rate" (BBC, 2007). As the home owners were subsequently unable to afford repayments, this resulted in a wave of repossessions. As the sub-prime lending had spread across America, the same story has been repeated. As many borrowers defaulted on payments, the financial institutions felt the credit crunch which reflected on other developed economies such as UK. The lenders in UK tightened their loan conditions in response to the US financial slump, especially in the sub prime market which has influenced the price of property in UK. The profitability of the financial services sector, which has been a key driver of UK economic growth in recent years, has also been affected. As the housing demand in UK showed a decline, this resulted in a general fear of economic slowdown. At this stage, the Bank of England faced a dilemma between a rise

Ethics and the News Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ethics and the News - Essay Example Nowadays, according to Rosenblatt (2012), â€Å"All of your Facebook activity and data will be available to the advertisers who use the network.† This clearly means a breach of privacy and thus, not only can advertisers use a user’s personal data but this data may be used maliciously by certain people or organizations who either sell illegal products and who can deliberately cause violence or harm towards a particular user or any random user. Indeed, if this is the case then it must be dangerous to even post anything on Facebook since the company might not be able to exactly trace where the information goes and who sees it. Moreover, there is indeed danger if one freely exposes private information over Facebook for some individuals might use this information for their own malicious motives, not to mention that anyone on Facebook or on any other social networking site might be able to gain access to it by mistake, and may either make fun of such information or â€Å"sim ply know† it without the knowledge and permission of the user. ... s practice of providing advertising companies with data from its users and shows this to be a rather natural tendency: â€Å"Facebook should not be criticized for the fact that it offers†¦new social plugins† because â€Å"the company carefully manages the data-sharing process, and it has made serious efforts to tell users exactly what is going and what they can do about it† (Eldon, 2010). In fact, based on the report, these privacy issues are without any basis and that these issues are in fact â€Å"creating new risks not just for Facebook users, but for the company and its ecosystem of developers and marketers† (Eldon, 2010). The privacy issues might also call the attention of the United States Federal Trade Commission as they might â€Å"impose stiff new regulation on what product changes that Facebook can make going forward, thereby limiting its ability to improve its products† (Eldon, 2010). In short, the report that favors Facebook and tries to e xonerate it from the accusations hurled against it concerning privacy issues somehow has three points: first, it is trying to say that such sharing is inevitable since Facebook is a new and developing company; second, it wants to tell the readers that Facebook is in fact doing its best to regulate the flow of data during any process that shares this data; and thirdly, the privacy issues raised by Facebook users in fact is the one that endangers the sense of freedom and privacy that Facebook affords its users. The reason is that such issues might call the attention of the government and thus monitor Facebook operations more closely. The third point actually discourages people from further hurling accusations against Facebook. According to James Rachels, â€Å"[Although] it is possible for people to act altruistically†¦a person

The Influence of The Parity Brands In Taiwan Assignment

The Influence of The Parity Brands In Taiwan - Assignment Example A research was conducted by Cheung to analyze the perception of customers on products based on various parameters like product quality, price, leadership and the difference of the brands based on the origins. Comparisons of this attributes have been carried out between national brands, international private labels, and local private labels. The hypothesis which was held for the research was that the overall quality of the products of the national brands were superior than the products which was manufactured in Taiwan but had international labels, whereas the quality of the international brands were higher than the local private labels. The second hypothesis held in the research conducted was that consumers view that the price of the national brands is higher than that of the products of the international private labels, whereas the price of the international private labels is higher than that of the local private labels. The third hypothesis for the research was that consumers had th e conception that national brands account for superior brand leadership in comparison to the international and local private label brands. The fourth and the final hypothesis for the research conducted by Cheng et al was that the brand personality of the international private brands was superior to that of the national brands and the local private labels. The research was based on primary survey and collected the views of 254 respondents all above the age of 16. The research method was based on systematic sampling and the data was gathered from the main railway station of Taipei which is located in Taiwan. In the research conducted much analysis has been done on the context of the quality of the products perceived by the customers and the factor of price has also been considered.  The study reveals that the economy of the Taiwan creates an interest among the multinational organizations to invest in the country. Owing to the flexible structure of investment, major brands have opened their business in the country. In matters of fashion brand and retail clothing, the local market is found to be largely hampered by the operation of multinational brands like Zara and Uniqlo.  Ã‚   The local brands failed to deliver the quality of the product at a lower price in comparison to the international brands and the marketing strategy of the foreign brands was also instrumental in capturing the market.

Autoimmunity and the risk of cancer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Autoimmunity and the risk of cancer - Essay Example Immunological mechanism refers to the collection of human cells which perform the fundamental function of providing immunity to diseases. The mechanism can be defined as the body’s defence mechanism, as it provides the body with resistance from infection by foreign microbes (Singh et al. 2014). Immunological mechanism can be effectively induced within the human body through vaccination process, which introduces disease resistance cells into the body. The defence mechanisms of the human body possess the capability to adapt and recognise pathogens through a period of time. The capability to adapt leaves an immunological memory following initial detection of pathogens. On the other hand pathogens also have adaptive capabilities which make them difficult to detect. The process of acquired or adaptive immunity has been the basis for development of vaccines, for different pathogens.Cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm caused by uncontrollable division and growth of cells, resulting in malignant tumour which invades nearby body parts. Cancer constitutes of numerous diseases which result in unregulated growth of cells within the human body(Penn 1982). Causes of these diseases remain diverse as the diseases with few being understood by medical practitioners. Many factors have been identified as increasing the risk for cancer development, including tobacco use, exposure to radiation, genetic factors, and infections, among many others. The characteristic presence of cancer involves damage to genes.

Commercial Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Commercial Law - Essay Example Consequently, it is not impossible, theoretically, for a bank to have a charge over the cash deposited by one of its customers and which functions as the security with regard to a loan provided to the customer. This effectively discounted the Court of Appeal’s conceptual impossibility contention that had been supported by it (McCormack, 2002, p. 7). Such reciprocity in indebtedness is common to several commercial transactions and this decision by the House of Lords has provided immense relief to the commercial community. This is due to its capacity to do away with ambiguity and promoting transactions that are of immense benefit. The fact that there are legally valid and effective alternate transactions does not reduce the importance of the aforementioned category of transactions (Re Bank of Credit and Commerce International S.A. (No. 8), 1998). These alternatives cover the contractual rights of set off and rendering the deposit a flawed asset, which the third party in the position of the depositor or depositor cannot withdraw. The court ruled with great insight that the device of a charge back ensured powerful protection to a bank. This was by means of the flawed asset techniques and the contractual set off, and not due to the charge over the asset (Re Bank of Credit and Commerce International S.A.... 187). Commercial transactions are always exposed to the risk of insolvency or default. This is mitigated by employing credit derivatives, which create exposure to or hedge the credit risk inherent in debt instruments, like bonds and loans. There is nothing novel about this function, which had been undertaken by debt syndication, cash securitisations, and loan participations. These initiatives had been utilised to control the credit risk of debt instruments. Such credit risk had been managed by the practice of sell – down of the investor of lender’s risk in the debt instrument (Ali, 2004, p. 326). All the same there is a crucial difference between the previous credit risk management strategies and credit derivatives. The latter separate the credit risk of a debt instrument from itself and this risk is transferred to a third party. In addition, the debt instrument is retained or disposed of to another party. This renders credit derivatives, tools of credit risk management that have much greater precision. Lenders and investors are protected against credit risk, due to credit derivatives; and the economic benefit of the debt instrument is not transferred (Ali, 2004, p. 326). Moreover, insurance and reinsurance companies, banks, bond insurers and hedge funds are the chief sellers of credit protection. Credit risk protection is provided by these financial institutions, first, by the sale of protection under credit default swaps to investors or lenders. Second, by the making investment of funds in securities issued under a programme of synthetic securitisation (Ali, 2004, p. 326). Companies of Scotland were not permitted to create a floating charge with regard to the whole or part of their undertakings and

Sociology - social research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Sociology - social research - Essay Example Body image may be criticized from sociocultural, neurocognitive, psycho-dynamic, behavioral, and even feminist viewpoints (Cash & Pruzinsky, 2002). Although body image includes many facets of issues within its context, body image is most often associated with self-esteem issues being that it is the level of one’s satisfaction with his or her physical self (Jones, 2001). As body image greatly affects a person’s development from early childhood to adulthood, it is important to study how influential factors affect a healthy body image perception. For adolescents, the concept of body image is crucial in their development to becoming healthy adult individuals. As such, at the very heart and core of adolescence and youth lies the concept of body image as they search for identity and make their stamp in the world (Ferron, 1997). There are many factors that affect a person’s perception of his or her body image. However, it is the media and the celebrity culture that goes along with it that plays a more significant role. In this study, the effects of the media, specifically magazines and the celebrity culture, on the youth 14 to 18 years old. Vital to the success of this study is first and foremost the research materials gathered that would support the hypothesis of the study entitled â€Å"Thin and Slim is Sexy: The Media’s Impact on the Body Image of the Youth Ages 14 to 18.† The design chosen by the researcher is the non-probability sampling design. The researcher recognizes the fact that availability of respondents may pose a problem. Hence, a non-probability sampling of the accidental or haphazard type, which is made up of those who come at hand or who is readily available will be utilized. Quota sampling may also be used wherein a sample of a fixed size are obtained from predetermined subdivisions of the population. Only young men and women who belong to the age group of 18 to 25 years old will be chosen for the

The Extent To Which States can Cooperate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

The Extent To Which States can Cooperate - Essay Example Cooperation between States It must also be noted that according to Hoffmann (2009: 245), constructivism has come up as an alternative to the shortcomings of Realism, liberalism and neo-liberalism. Some of the thinkers in international relations and politics such as Michael Barnett see social constructivism as being occupied with the manner in which ideas construct international structure, the manner in which such structures the identities and interests of these states, and the manner in which states and non-state entities act to produce this structure. Constructivists see international relations as being underpinned and defined by tenable and persuasive ideas, social ideas, forces of acculturation and collective values. Against this backdrop, there are many who have championed for the triumphing of constructivism in international relations over ideals such as realism, liberalism and neo-liberalism. Many relations exist between or among states in the international arena and can be see n to have been underpinned by ideals of constructivism. In the first place, it is important to note that the era in which states started to cooperate among themselves does not only date back to as far as when the concept of a state was realised, but also expressly convey elements of constructivism. One can clearly see the manner in which the French Revolution (1789-1799) set off precedence towards cordial interstate cooperation. Seeking to maintain the balance of power; to restore legitimacy of rule; and to quash the revolutionary spirit from suffusing into the rest of Europe, the Concert of Europe was formed among Prussia, Britain, the Russian Empire and... The research notes that according to Hoffmann, constructivism has come up as an alternative to the shortcomings of Realism, liberalism and neo-liberalism. Some of the thinkers in international relations and politics such as Michael Barnett see social constructivism as being occupied with the manner in which ideas construct international structure, the manner in which such structures the identities and interests of these states, and the manner in which states and non-state entities act to produce this structure. Constructivists see international relations as being underpinned and defined by tenable and persuasive ideas, social ideas, forces of acculturation and collective values. Against this backdrop, there are many who have championed for the triumphing of constructivism in international relations over ideals such as realism, liberalism and neo-liberalism. Many relations exist between or among states in the international arena and can be seen to have been underpinned by ideals of co nstructivism. In the first place, it is important to note that the era in which states started to cooperate among themselves does not only date back to as far as when the concept of a state was realised, but also expressly convey elements of constructivism. One can clearly see the manner in which the French Revolution (1789-1799) set off precedence towards cordial interstate cooperation. Seeking to maintain the balance of power; to restore legitimacy of rule; and to quash the revolutionary spirit from suffusing into the rest of Europe, the Concert of Europe was formed among Prussia, Britain, the Russian Empire and Austria.

Human Resources Integration Essay Example for Free

Human Resources Integration Essay Hugh McCauley, the Chief Operations Officer of Riordan Manufacturing, has placed a service request, SR-rm-022 to integrate all existing Human Resources tools into a single integrated application across all plant locations. The business would like to take advantage of a more sophisticated, state-of-the-art, information systems technology to replace their current Human Resources Information System or HRIS (Riordan Manufacturing, 2006.) In response to this request, this document will outline the following items. The information-gathering techniques and systems analysis tools proposed for this project. Critical factors to ensure the sucessful gathering of information required for the project. Description of the project scope and the areas of project feasibility, and key stakeholders of which requirements will be collected are also discussed. INFORMATION GATHERINT TECHNIQUES AND SYSTEMS ANALYSIS TOOLS To ensure project success, it is important to gather your key stakeholders together to discuss the system. Key Stakeholders for this project would be key management personnel, IT staff, and users of both the legacy system, and the new system. Your key stakeholders will also be the first level of intelligence gathering performed. Key management personnel such as Hugh McCauley, the COO, who can give the corporate view of the legacy and the new system. HR Director Yvonne McMillian and Payroll/Tax Clerk Anan Richlich can give an exact use case on the HRIS system, and will be the two primary sources of legacy information. Director Yvonne can determine training requirements with the help of the IT department. The IT department can provide information about the legacy system and the capabilities of the current infrastructure of the business. IT can also judge and approve new requirements, privacy structures, and future support needed to maintain the  system. Face-to-face interviews will allow information gathering from these key individuals. Questions, an outline of topics, and a primary agenda will be provided beforehand to maximize the use of available time in hectic schedules. We will also be occasionally meeting to discuss the direction the system is heading, timelines, priorities, and key players lists to ensure success of the project. There is another primary source of information which needs addressing, and this is the group of people who handle information we will be adding which did not exist in the legacy system. This group can submit examples of their files, which will determine another part of the scope of the system, and use cases of how that information is gathered. After this information has been collected, documented and studied, the system development process can begin. The system will be designed using the Joint Application Development (JAD) method. JAD is a prototyping method which gathers our key players listed above, along with other designated individuals to collectively refine business requirements while in conference with the design team of the software and the support team from IT. The JAD process also includes approaches for enhancing user participation, expediting the development, and improving the quality of specifications. It consists of a workshop where knowledge workers and IT specialists meet, sometimes for several days, to define and review the business requirements for the system.† (Joint Application Design Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, n.d.) Using this prototyping method ensures that each key factors such as project support and misdirection will not be an issue. This also ensures that the project gets the continued support it will need in the future to succeed. SCOPE AND FEASIBILITY During the Analysis phase of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), several areas of project feasibility come into play. As discussed above, determining fully the system requirements ensures that you are filling the need of the system. A preliminary study is then conducted to confirm and evaluate the need. A proposal of how the need may be satisfied is then made. (Scope of Feasibility Analysis | Bicara Property, n.d.) The necessity of the system, as well as the improvements and requirements of the new system, will all be handled within the JAD process, allowing final project scope and requirements development. These developments can be realized  financially to allow final budgetary requirements determination. All of these determinations hinge upon the proper system scope being defined. During this process, the unique considerations are also shared. In this project, the request was to Create a detailed system design and a project implementation plan required to complete the proj ect. The project should be completed in approximately six months allowing new system utilization in the second quarter of next year. (Riordan Manufacturing, 2006.) This design process includes checks and balances, giving the project the fullest chance of success. During the entire process, oversight will be maintained by corporate leadership. Final approval before entering the next phase of the SLDC allowing equipment purchasing approval from the COO, Hugh McCauley. By following this process, we can ensure this project produces a system which fulfills the requirements, bringing a sophisticated, state-of-the-art, information system† to Riordan Manufacturing’s Human Resources Department. (Riordan Manufacturing, 2006.) During the JAD process, two methods were determined to fit the requirements, building a system in-house using programmers’ already on staff or using off the shelf software from a major corporation. To fulfill user testing requirements, a trial version of the BambooHR software was tested by staff and management. The BambooHR software fulfills all the requirements with less downtime for the company, saving valuable resources and eliminating the need for more support staff to be hired. The design process for this system began by gathering relevant data for the current system and by building both requirements for the new system and use cases of the current processes in the Human Resources department. After gathering and sorting the new system requirements using the Joint Application Design process, it is now possible to continue to design both the application architecture and apply the tools of system analysis to describe the information systems. SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE The client/server architecture is one of the most prevalent system architectures used in corporations. With Riordans requirements to allow multiple sites access to data and to ensure that data remains secure, the data will be stored on the server, and access routed through a secondary  application server. The application server hosts the applications which access the data, allowing a lower cost local machine, and can allow both intranet access and outside access using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) connection to create a secure encrypted link between the client and the server. This style of client/server architecture is referred to as a three-tiered architecture due to the three tiers involved in accessing the data. Although this method may seem bulky at first, this will allow many different benefits for data security and lower overall cost of the system as requirements are lower for the client computers. The determined requirements for multiple locations to share and modify data leaving with Riordan only required to supply the client systems with no additional support necessary for a data server or application server. Eliminating the current architecture on hand will save maintenance, upgrade and support costs, both in monetary and staff requirements. The chosen software, Bamboo Human Information Resource System (HRIS) follows the same requirements recommended in terms of hardware as those designed using system analysis. ARCHITECTURE DIAGRAM SECURITY CONTROLS Security is the ability to protect the information system from disruption and data loss, whether caused by an international act (e.g., a hacker or a terrorist attack) or a random event (e.g., disk failure, tornado.) according to SYSTEMS TEXTBOOK. In modern corporations, internal threats can become much more dangerous than external threats. To combat both types of threats implementation of the following security protocols will be included in the system: DATA Data must be kept secure and confidential, protected from both internal and external threats at all times. Data encryption and passwords will be used in addition to other security features to protect employees. Data stored externally to the server, such as the outsourced benefits data will be reviewed for security procedures and evaluated annually. Currently the data is decentralized, being stored in different offices and by various methods, creating a security problem that the new system can correct. The first step  to addressing this will be to ensure secure storage of all data. Consolidating data allows secure controls on the access each person has to the secured data by both the application used to access the server, and the access controls given them when they log in. This will also allow multiple applications to access the same data, while leaving greater flexibility to find the best software to fit multiple needs. Each user can add, remove, and manipulate only the data they are given access to, no matter the platform the data is being accessed form. PROCESSES Some legacy processes consolidation will occur as the data is consolidated, and certain processes would benefit from using third party software thereby gaining security certificates and minimizing the amount of knowledge and training required for our Information Technologies department. Many of the software suppliers will assist with training, modification and installation making the transition from the legacy system easier on staff. INTERFACES System interfaces describe how the system shares information with outside sources such as outsourced data, user requests, and internal data sharing. As Intrusion Detection and Identity Management systems will protect the internal data interfaces, as discussed above, the user interface design process needs to be addressed. As many of the users currently only have forms built for their information and no system to store them in, Riordan Manufacturing can evaluate different third party solutions for a web-based system. Using a web-based system, such as Bamboo HRIS allows applications to be placed on a remote server, lowering the cost of the clients used and saving valuable money and resources. Employees accessing the application server via the intranet will use username/password combinations to decrypt data on their local machine, while access from external sources, including employees at a remote site will use a private key encryption system to decrypt their data. This process minimizes the amount of data stored on the individual clients in case of theft or destruction of client resources. NETWORK The network consists of the backbone, data server, application server, firewall, and clients. There are four processes that will be used to protect  the network from unauthorized access: Implementation of Intrusion Detection System – This system conducts real-time monitoring of the network, database, traffic, and user access and activity to find possible intrusion or security risks. Log Management Program – Almost all software produces logs which store information on user access, file management, and data modification to name a few examples. Consolidating these logs into easier to read and understand can help identify potential security risks. Identity Management Systems – Control access to resources and data based on the users identification within the system, i.e. the users login credentials.   Training for Security Measures – The best security system will not function to its highest potential unless staff are trained in the use of the system. This training includes proper in-processing and out-processing procedures to protect from unauthorized access. Although the Systems Development Life Cycle is a continuous cycle, the final step for this Human Resources Information System project is the Implementation and Operations phase. This is the most expensive and time-consuming phase due to the amount of personnel, resources, and time involved. According to Valacich, George, and Hoffer (2012), there are seven major activities, coding, testing, installation, documentation, training, support, and maintenance. This document will explore the first six activities, giving a brief description and the plan for implementation at Riordan Manufacturing of the Bamboo Human Resources Information System. It is important to ensure that each of these activities are adequately defined, as many of them are conducted multiple times during the life of the system, and some are carried out on a daily basis. Building proper procedures for staff and support personnel to follow ensures that all upgrade or modification testing is accomplished to the same standards as the original system. CODING Coding is the process by which designs are transferred into the physical form that is computer software. As the selected system requires no coding, this  aspect will not be planned for TESTING Testing is an involved process which begins with the first section of code and continues throughout the life of the system. There are several different methods of testing in use today, some in which the code is run to verify operation and output, and some in which a code error review is conducted without operation. The Inspection method involves a physical inspection of the code, checking for syntax, grammar, or other fundamental errors before running the code while ignoring the purpose of the code. The inspection method usually removes the majority of errors found in the program. A Walkthrough allows testing of the code for functionality and to determine if the code fulfills the design requirements identified by the design team. Desk Checking, another form of checking and verifying code involves running the code with paper and pen to determine the logical validity of the code without running any lines of code. The previous methods of testing are focused on catching issues when writing code and may not apply to the code purchased off the shelf, or in modular form to work within an existing system. With the cost of development for code, especially in smaller companies this may not be a viable option, however even if purchasing prepackaged code, there are tests which should be run to ensure no problems will be found during installation. After the code has been validated by manual means, or for purchased code, it can be processed by a program, such as a compiler, to verify that there are no significant errors by Syntax Checking. Syntax Checking can also be run automatically each time the program saves a file to identify issues which arise causing the system to need maintenance. Code is generally written in modular form in todays environments, and there are methods of testing which lend themselves well to this. Unit testing is designed to test each individual module or unit to verify operation before the modules are combined together into a system. Testing individual modules may seem to be difficult as many modules share data and information, the way to fix any call errors is by using Stub Testing. During Stub testing, lines of instructions are inserted in the code to emulate a response from an outside source allowing the program to complete without errors. After testing the modules, they are combined and tested again during Integration testing, using a top-down approach to verifying communications and data sharing logic is sound. The final method  to discuss is System Testing, the act of testing the finalized system, using the same top-down approach from the Integration phase. The software chosen for Riordan Manufacturing to satisfy the needs listed is off-the-shelf giving limited testing requirements. Alpha Testing was accomplished during the final steps of the JAD, or Joint Application Design, process and beta testing will commence using key stakeholders in the project once final project approval has been given. INSTALLATION The installation process involves transitioning from the legacy system to the new system and can occur in several different approaches, direct, parallel, single location, and phased. â€Å"Each installation strategy involves converting not only software but also data and (potentially) hardware, documentation, work methods, job descriptions, offices and other facilities, training materials, business forms, and other aspects of the systems (Dennis, Wixom, Roth, 2012, ). Each of these different installation methods has their positive and negative aspects, and can be combined to fit the needs of the business requirements. The Direct Approach is a cold turkey shut down of the legacy system with no transition time, which can be dangerous if there are issues with the new system, or if support or training are lacking, however, this can drive the new system as there is no choice but success. In the Parallel installation method, the legacy system is left running allowing a safety net; however, this requires support for both systems causing increased cost to the business. A Single Location approach can allow for adjustments before all sites are brought online, however while the other locations continue to use the legacy system, data must be bridged between the two systems and the same additional costs of the Parallel system are incurred. Finally the Phased approach gradually transitions between the two systems, making transitions easier for the staff, yet limits the newer system to the constraints of the older system as they must share data. For Riordans new HRIS, the direct approach will be combined with the phased approach. Currently only the corporate site is using the legacy system, and phasing the other locations onto the system will allow training in phases by location. DOCUMENTATION Documentation of a system comes in several different forms each of utmost  importance. To ensure that the system can be adequately supported and repaired, System documentation is required. To ensure that users properly understand the system, User documentation such as a users guide, release description, system administrators guide, reference documentation and user acceptance are required. Systems documentation, users guide and reference documentation for this system is provided by Bamboo HR after purchase of the system is completed, and acceptance sign-off will be completed as the final step of the installation. TRAINING As systems can only function to the level at which users can operate the system, user training is tantamount to success of an installation. User training can occur in many different forms, classroom led training, literary resources, and online training, all of which are educational tools to heighten productivity and ensure system success. Support staff will also be trained to understand not only how the user accomplishes tasks within the system, but also the how the system performs these tasks if repair or maintenance is to be conducted. Training on the HRIS will be carried out by BambooHR using several different methods for different topics. As the system will be maintained by an outside company, the focus for Riordan will be user training. All staff will be trained using online methods with documentation support for using the new system as all pertinent employee information will be handled through the online system to include benefits, vacation time, and training. Specialist training will be available for the following procedures; benefit tracking, recruitment, employee and management training, employee tracking, login management, payroll activities, report management, change requests and performance reviews by BambooHR. In addition, IT support staff will receive refresher training in application program interface to allow for interactivity and continued development of the system as business needs change. SUPPORT Support of a system is conducted not only on the system itself, in terms of upgrades for the hardware and software, and backups of the data, but also support for the users. With any system, issues occur during use, and an avenue for users to report these quickly and accurately, and receive assistance for problems is required. Tracking these reported problems can  help system analysts and support staff determine if there is a fix for the software or hardware, or if more user training can solve the issues. CONCLUSION Purchasing the Bamboo HRIS program has both tangible and intangible benefits for Riordan Manufacturing. The financial aspect, $16,512 a year ($8 per employee for 172 regular employees) dwarfs the price of purchasing and installing the required hardware to run an on-site system, while removing the current outsourcing which exists for benefits management. Provided training, customer support, security support, data migration, business report design and security upgrades add to the overall corporate value and dispensing of the legacy system releases it support personnel while lowering utility and maintenance bills. Determinations of the proper level of support staffing needed to continue business operations after the legacy system retirement will be conducted to eliminate nonessential personnel. REFERENCES Cutler, T. P. (2015). Internal vs. external threats Digital locksmiths. Retrieved from http://digitallocksmithsinc.com/2013/03/27/internal-vs-external-threats/#.VQ5XR-HZBww Riordan Manufacturing (2006). Riordan Intranet. Retrieved March 15, 2015 from http://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/cist/libraries/IT Service Requests.htm University of Phoenix 2005-2009 Unified Security Management USM Platform. (2015). Retrieved from https://www.alienvault.com/products?utm_source=Googleutm_medium=CPCutm_term=%2Balienvaultutm_campaign=SITELINK-ALIENVAULT_USMgclid=COrosKLUv8QCFRSIfgodGr4AUg Joint application design Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_application_design Bicara, Bedes (2009). Bicara Property. Retrieved January 16, 2010 from http://bicaraproperty.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/scope-of-feasibility-analysis BambooHR: Human resources software for small and medium businesses. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.bamboohr.com/ Valacich, J. S., George, J. F., Hoffer, J. A. (2012). Essentials of Systems Analysis and Design (5th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection.

Modernism In Scandinavia And Italy Cultural Studies Essay

Modernism In Scandinavia And Italy Cultural Studies Essay Modernism was not just a new style of thinking; it represented a new way of thinking, new ideas and a new ideology which was a shift from the contemporary ways of art, literature and architecture. Modernism, when defined roughly, refers to the contemporary ideas, notions, spirit and way of life. A more accurate definition would describe it as the change in the cultural values which originated in the form of cultural movements, and left their impact on the Western society in the late 19th and early 20th century. Some believe that modernism was an uprising against realism which was both conventional and conformist in its way of thinking. Some of the major political and societal changes which brought about the modernism were the post world wars situation. The huge developments and transformations in industry and technology coupled with the cultural exchanges, transportation and communication developments and influences from the West. The period of modernism in Scandinavia and Italy was both progressive and optimistic. It stems from the renaissance for the historians and was a cultural movement which impacted the Scandinavian and Italian art, architecture, music and literature. The breaking away from the conventional styles to newer representations in the period, where there was a shift from the traditional values. The period also marked growth and innovations in science, ethics, philosophy and psychology besides the previously mentioned art, architecture, music and literature. Different countries have had their share of influencing modernism. Modernism was reflected in art and styles and the streak touched many countries, with each nation contributing uniquely and overall adding to the progression. This period saw a change in the style and ideology of art during this era. The philosophy of art was transformed during this period in terms of the themes and subject matter, and also the use of colours, shapes and lines. The intellectual underpinnings of modernism emerge during the Renaissance period when, through the study of the art, poetry, philosophy, and science of ancient Greece and Rome, humanists revived the notion that man, rather than God, is the measure of all things, and promoted through education ideas of citizenship and civic consciousness. The period also gave rise to utopian visions of a more perfect society.  [1]   Every nuances of design, architecture or art captures the political and cultural aura of the time and place, and the modern art in Scandinavia and Italy reflected their countries situations in the modern art. Below is a modernism timeline which shows the significant events between 1920- 1970. Modernism in Scandinavia Scandinavia had a mixed dynamics of cultures, language and politics. This gave birth to a versatile and multi dimensional philosophy of art and design which became more assertive. The movement from Europe enveloped Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland within its fold. The Scandinavian countries had their own unique, yet impactful role in the move towards modernism. The response to the stimuli from the modern world was distinctive. The countries were experiencing the same changes in the modern life- social equality, industrialization and urbanization. Nonetheless, the outcomes and impact showed the unique natures of art and skills that evolved, which gave individuality and characteristic art and design to each of the countries. Yet the distinctiveness was combined with features which were common to all the Scandinavian countries which include a unifying touch in terms of humanism, tradition, moderation, handcrafted perfectionism, modesty, quietude and purposefulness  [2]   which came to know as the style of the Scandinavian modern art. Among the European countries, the Scandinavian were able to portray the modern artistic touch in their traditional and conventional craft most expressively. Countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Finland which had internal dynamics and resources which led to an increased inclination towards the craft industries were most explicit in communicating the modern aesthetic in their art and craft.With the breakdown of the craft guild system in the mid- nineteenth century, they established a number of institutions to protect them from an influx of inferior, foreign mass-produced goods.  [3]  The Swedish Society of Craft and Industrial Design was formed to cultivate and maintain high standards in crafts. In the pre-1900 times, the Scandinavian countries derived their inspiration from the national traditions and folklore. The early works, which imparted and impacted the most to the modernism, included the Viking-revival imagery of Norway, arts and crafts movement of Nordic and the Swedish porcelain works which depicted the flora and fauna to their utmost beauty on vessels. Harmony in visual arts such as architecture, decorative arts, graphics and craft came through the Art Nouveau movement which gave a unifying touch to the art. The driving motivation behind the flourishing of modern art during the Art Nouveau was the dissatisfaction with historicism, and the mutual feeling that a newer and fresher design should be adopted in the new century. Gregor Paulssons book Vackrare Vardagsvara was the starting point towards the unifying of Swedish design. The Swedish design was directed towards achieving ideals of humanism and democracy, depicted through beauty and simplicity. National romanticism found initial grounds in Sweden and Finland; however there was a failure to translate this style into architecture as a unifying feature. Works of architects like Gustaf Ferinand is of particular importance. The Scandinavian countries followed a same trajectory, like the Copenhagen town hall in Denmark failed to integrate Richardsons example. Romanticism is Finland had become prominent in the late 1800s. The inspiration behind the Finnish modern art was their folk epic kalevala. Sonck was a prominent figure who built a granite church and used materials such as steel and concrete for Engels university library. Other major buildings include Tampere Cathedral and telephone building with characteristic masonry syntax. Finland had been an imperial colony of Sweden and Russia, and therefore Denmark was where the revival of Romantic Classicism originated. Tinges of classism were seen in Sweden quite some time later in works such as Carl Westmans Stockholm Courts. The ar chitecture saw a shift from national romantic and classical to neo classical. In Sweden the Romantic classical revival could not witness its pure form and was diluted by inflection of plan and iconography. Tampere Landmarks and Monuments: Tampere Cathedral (Tampereen Tuomiokirkko)  tampere_cathedral_view.jpg Alvar Aaltos had Asplund as the driving force. Both Aaltos and Asplunds work had several directions to them, and depict different levels of cultural development. The work saw varying contrasts of classical and vernacular architecture. Major works of Aalto, such as the apartments, clubs, churches and renovations were inspired by Asplund, and had a Doricist touch to them with an amalgamation of vernacular, Hoffmanns austerity of line and Italian. Aaltos Paimio sanatorium instilled the Functional style in the 1927-34 periods. Aaltos later works were inspired by Erik Bryggman, who was a Finnish architect, in which classicism was combined with the Soviet-Agit-Prop lead in architecture expression. The designs of Aalto derived inspirations from both Dutch and Russian Constructivism, and included the use of concrete, geometrical schemes and serial landscapes. Aalto was influenced by different peoples and philosophies in his works. His later career saw a shift from rational and technical idea s to human imagination, and the use of materials shifted from concrete to wood. This was the organic approach to style and design. Special consideration was given to the ambiance and environment of the architecture, with filtration of heat, sound and light. Hence, the designs incorporated the physical and psychological needs of the people. Efforts were made to ensure the control of environment, meet the peoples needs of privacy, suitable exposure to light and heat, design of ceilings and non noisy wash basins. The designs and features of the buildings were tailor made for each, so that the varying needs such as those of a library and hospitals could be met effectively. Aalto describes his anti mechanistic and more humanistic approach to architecture in the words, To make architecture more human means better architecture and it means functionalism much larger than the merely technical ones. This goal can be accomplished only by architectural methods- by the creation and combination o f different technical things in such a way that they will provide for the human being the most harmonious life  [4]  . Neo empirical times in Scandinavia(1930s) saw the anti urban streak in them with an inclination towards the humanistic and traditional inspired styles. Some remarkable architectures in this period include the powerhouse designed by Osvald Almqvist, Sven Markeliuss Swedish pavilion, the house of Gunnar Asplund and other similar styles of buildings. The basic features of architecture in both Scandinavia and Italy can be described in the words, the entire inventive effort of these architects consist essentially of devising flexible urban modules whose geometrical character permits articulations that fit well into natural site, leaving the color, simplicity, and traditionalism of the details to provide the more immediate directions  [5]  . The Scandinavian styles, which emerged after the post world war period, were the works of many talented Scandinavian architects and designers. The works of the architects was highly successful and impacted o only the Scandinavian countries but also the rest of the world as described in the following words, Self-confidence grew with the successes. The American Lunning Award, reserved for Scandinavian designers, provided a number of young talents with their American breakthrough. In 1954 Design in Scandinavia embarked on a three-and-a half year long tour of the US and Canada. It was not just beautifully crafted objects, but A Scandinavian Way of Living that was promoted. Danish teak furniture, Swedish crystal and textiles, Norwegian enamel, Finnish furniture and glass merged into a concept generally perceived as Scandinavian: blond, cool, distinct and refined. Its careful craftsmanship, perfection, harmony and natural feeling were seen as the dream of a better world in a Europe which had risen from the inferno of World War II. Remarkably, there are few countries today if any which continue to produce as many vintage designs as the Scandinavian countries, testimony to their timelessness, practicality and to the well-deserved argument they transcend the vagaries of fashion  [6]  . Modernism in Italy Modernism in Italy is closely linked to the social forces and is portrayed through the artistic strategies. Artists as individuals, or in groups, sought to demonstrate the change of the century and the change in the social environment (with culture and politics being the main drivers) through painting, design, music, literature and architecture.Two architects, Giuseppe Sommaruga  and  Ernesto Basile, were the major contributors to the Art Nouveau in Italy. Art Noveau also known as the new art was a movement of changing styles of art, applied art and architecture in terms of style. Italy was affected, better, influenced by Modernism such that the era brought forward architectural masterpieces that were at times either influenced by the works of foreign modernist architects or by older architectural designs. The 1925 renovation of Rome brought about changes in the Roman map as streets were re-built to connect ancient monuments with the monuments that were to be built by the Mussolini with the help of Marcello Piacentini. While declaring the plan for the reconstruction of Rome, Mussolini declared: In five years time, Rome must astonish the peoples of the world. It must appear vast, orderly and powerful as it was in the days of Augustus. Affinity of tradition was so strong during the modernist era that it was almost impossible to construct and design buildings that did not draw influence from ancient Roman architecture. They were, therefore, bound to retain a typical national character. The act of taking inspiration from the past was best settled by the argument that the traditions are not erased from the memories of citizens but only evolve into variations of themselves. However, the avant-garde architecture and modernism was viewed fearfully by those who had witnessed the devastations of the world war and regarded modernism in the technological spheres and other advances as the root cause of the war. The new slogan raised was therefore that of humanism, which incorporated that which was left in the pre war period. Special emphasis was laid on the psychological and physical aspects of the architecture of the people, the expressive use of materials, integration with the environment and incorporation of the traditions and societal factors. The art and architecture sought to remove the anti-technology and neo-humanistic approach and produce work which the people could identify with by having a relationship with them and incorporating traditions. This is referred to as the neo-empirical movement in Scandinavia and the organic movement in Italy. The urban areas began to have a domestic tinge to them, with an anti urban attitude emerging in both Scandinavi a and Italy. The themes of nature and pseudo-psychologism flourished in the Scandinavian architecture in the 1930s. The Italian architects drew their inspiration from the Scandinavian architecture and therefore the architecture in Italy showed the visible signs of being inspired from the Scandinavians. The social-democratic styles were particularly attractive for the Italian architects. However, Italian modernism was more richer than the following of Scandinavian styles only. The flair of Italian furniture design for expressing exclusivity and esprit was much better suited to the booming economy than the sparse aesthetics and good-natured folksiness of Scandinavian design, which was beginning to feel tame and stagnant. A decade earlier, Nordic coolness and order had been needed to help heal the spiritual wounds in a Europe that was still in ruins and chaos. But now young Nordic designers could no longer walk in the old footsteps. Scandinavian design became unfashionable, also in Scandinavia itself  [7]  . However, the Italian architecture had more depth to it in the Neo-Realism, rather than just being inspired by Scandinavian styles. The central concern was on the insistence on defining a common language that would be directly communicative for the poorer classes who were viewed as the protagonists of the postwar reconstruction  [8]  . Informal ground plans were laid out to pay reverence to impulsive forms of architecture and materials such as wrought iron and Roman style bricks were used with an emphasis on local dialect. This combination clearly referred to the peasant world adorned for its naturalism. Certainly the rediscovery of rural purity was simply one aspect of the cultural populism that was so in vogue in the post war Italian culture. It was a regressive utopia with nostalgic accents. But, as far as the architecture was concerned, it created a true proper ideology that was adequate to the particular role that the building industry was called to fulfill in the period of r econstruction  [9]  . The architects gave monumental forms to their creations, with features of structural expressionism to build an emotive contact with the masses. The Italian architecture should also be viewed from the perspective of the polemics for and against the Organic architecture. In the Renaissance, architecture was seen as the supreme artit also represented the highest artistic achievement a human being could attain. The Italian renaissance architecture had significant impact on the world at that time, displaced only by the advent of modernist architecture in the twentieth century.  [10]   But even the modern architect Richard Meier notes that the quality of light, expression of structure, as expressed in an interior like Sant Ivo Sapienza, remains influential in the way buildings are designed today. Therefore, the ideas and philosophies that emerged with regard to the architectural design still find a place I todays world. The idea of buildings that reach into the heavens or the principle that an interior should welcome the light into the interior rooms can be traced to this period.  [11]  Much of domestic architecture throughout Europe and America still resists modernism, and you can still drive down the street in Palo Alto and see columned exterio rs on the houses of the wealthy mimicking public buildings and communicating civic power. The focus of Italian architecture was on the creation of open, well-lit, and above all public spaces that welcomed both light and was a reflection of humanistic ideas with special emphasis on the physical and psychological comforts for the people. The developments in Roman architecture with their innovative designs and use of styles such as arches and vaults are the source of inspiration for many architectural masterpieces even today. The modernism period brought changes that have changed the world of architecture forever. These impacts of modernism can be seen not only in the Roman empire but have also spread far and wide during the travels and conquests of the Romans. Conclusion The Scandinavian and Italian art and architecture, and the economic, technological, demographic and cultural changes evolved in tandem. The architectural designs depict the periods and their relative influence with different architects and artists gaining influence in different periods, and their works marked by their characteristic styles, yet having a unifying national touch to them. The styles which were adopted were the neo classism, Romanticism, historicism and vernacular architecture. These trends in architecture coincide with the societal and political changes in these countries during 1920-1970s. The use of wood and concrete and architectural styles like the arches, piers and others are the characteristic features of the times, and a reflection of political and societal evolution. The architecture in Scandinavia and Italy is intermittent with a variety of prevailing conditions, such as those of the society, but also reflect the architects innovation and style. The Scandinavia n and Italian architecture hold onto their uniqueness even today. A visit to these countries show how the architecture has a touch of individuality to it ranging from the buildings, shops, hotels, restaurants and other architectural creations. The modern and contemporary styles have left their mark so prominent, that it can be seen even today. To conclude, it may be said that identity is very important. During the modernism, people found validation and expression in the objects with which they surrounded themselves and therefore their ideologies were reflected in their art and architecture.

How does Miler create a sense of tension and conflict between John and

How does Miler create a sense of tension and conflict between John and Elizabeth Proctor at the beginning of Act Two? In Act Two, John and Elizabeth Proctor are conversing and there are signs to indicate that there are tensions occurring in their marriage. Although the main theme of the ‘The Crucible’ is Witchcraft, this Act concentrates mainly on the relationship of John and Elizabeth. Miller uses a variety of dramatic devices, like stage directions to promote this point. Prior to this act the girls have named the witches and John has returned from Salem. Considering that this is where Abigail (whom John had an affair with) resides, it does not improve his dying marriage and relations with his wife. Miller begins by setting the tone for the scene and describes the front room of Proctor’s house. The room is described as ‘low, dark and rather long’; this immediately gives the impression of a threatening and hostile place. Coupled with the empty room, this could signify loneliness and symbolize the emptiness and lack of affection within the marriage. The word ‘halts’ is used to depict an image of a shocked John as he hears his wife singing, upon his entrance to the house. Miller could have decided to include this piece of information in order to show the audience how Elizabeth is rarely in a good frame of mind – perhaps due to her failing marriage. John then proceeds to add further seasoning to the food that Elizabeth has already prepared. This action is one of many devices used demonstrating the lack of satisfaction and need for more within the marriage. When Elizabeth does eventually enter to meet John, Miller is quick to show through her first line of speech â€Å"What keeps you so late? It’s almost dar... ... be more romantic and Miller shows an opposing side to his character, the pause indicates their discomfort and when Elizabeth’s ‘back is turned to him’ this is yet another effective way of making the audience notice the increasing distance between them, both physically and emotionally. Finally John then gives up and decides to try and address the problem that is bothering his wife. Miller’s stage directions ‘she doesn’t want friction, and yet she must’ portrays an image of a woman caught in two minds. Elizabeth wants to remain a good, obedient wife however she cannot resist challenging John about his whereabouts which led to his late arrival. The place of ‘Salem’ is mentioned and this could be Miller’s way of Elizabeth inadvertently or perhaps indirectly showing her distrust towards John. When John learns of Marry Warren’s presence in Salem his anger.

Video Conferencing Essay -- Communication Essays

Video Conferencing This essay will be about a communication medium called Video Conferencing (not to be confused with Web conferencing). I will explain what video conferencing is, how it works, potential uses, future impact with regards to technology as well as advantages/disadvantages with video conferencing. According to West, Donald (august 2003) â€Å"Videoconferencing Whit Paper† Videoconferencing is two way video and sound between two or more locations using video, audio and high speed digital communication connections. The development of videoconferencing started way back in 1956 with AT&T building the first picture phone test system, and it gradually evolved and in 1991 the first video/audio conference was held (HREF1). By means of video conferencing, images are digital, bits or pixel is used to represent the image. Video is accomplished by sending a sequence of digital frames, this is then received, decoded and shown at the receiving end. Both parties of the conference receive and transmit streams of digital images and voice at the same time. Common features of video conferencing systems are camera, visual display, audio system, user interface and control system, network connection and compression. The critical component in this process is the compression, referred to as CODEC. This device converts images to a digital format for transmission and decodes the received image for display. Displays are normally standard television receivers, LCD or video projectors. The use of video conferencing as an essential part of business communication has increased dramatically in recent years. The growth is expected to continue unabated according to research firm Frost & Sullivan Inc, going from 1.9 billion U.S to 5.4 billion U... ... It has been limited by the lack of bandwidth, but as that is continuously growing streaming is definitely something to be reckoned with in the near future. The most interesting technology would be Teleportec, to be in two places at once sounds very fascinating, projecting a digital image of the user to appear in a room. Although it sounds more like science-fiction, it is vaguely in use today, even though it is very expensive it would be very interesting to se how this technology develops in the future. References Videoconferencing White Paper - August 2003 by West, Donald Video conferencing report by Taylor, Moira (HREF1) http://myhome.hanafos.com/~soonjp/vchx.html (HREF2) http://www.uc.edu/ucitnow/winter_01/vctech.htm Electronic Engineering Times. David Lammers Manhasset: Apr 29, 2002. , Iss. 1216; pg. 46, 2 pgs http://gateway.proquest.com:

West Nile: Its Not Just a River In Egypt Essay -- West Nile Viruses

West Nile: It's Not Just a River In Egypt These Americans will go mad over just about anything. Lately there has been so much news coverage about "the West Nile Virus" my head is spinning. What I don't understand is why they are finally becoming concerned with it now! The news reports on the television say that it has been present in animals and humans on other continents for years though it was only documented in 1999.[1] It has taken what seems like a long time to spread across the continent to California. However, being a student of history myself I know that usually epidemics in the past have taken much, much longer to spread such distances. Seeing as this disease was present on all other continents but this one for so long it makes it difficult to track its entrance into the U.S., but the American scientists say the strain of West Nile they have here most closely identifies with strains from the Middle East.[1] Every time I turn on the telly there is some well groomed reporter standing near an area deemed "high risk" such as ponds in parks. In her clear harsh American tone she warns to stay indoors at dusk, to avoid areas with standing water, and use plenty of insect repellent.[2] You see they have found that this virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, and those conditions tend to make people come in close contact with them. She then lists warning signs for the fever that accompanies contraction of the virus, rattling on about things that could just as easily be something else. Fever, head and body aches, nausea[2]--all things that could accompany any illness; the flu, a cold, food poisoning or even a hard days work. Why must all sicknesses exhibit the same symptoms? They say that the infection of the body c... ...ted for this year in California. Being so young I'm not as concerned about this as the older population is, but I am just as affected by the sensationalist news reports, "WEST NILE WATCH 2003," that interrupt programs every fifteen minutes. There really is a feeling of impending sickness that will sweep over us all, but luckily it doesn't seem to strike. It is definitely something that the populace here has been educated about, and warned about, but has yet to affect a widespread group of people negatively. On the contrary, I'm sure bug repellant sales are up, as well as doctor visits for flu-like symptoms. We are all more aware, many are frightened and hopefully few will ever have reason to be. Sources: 1. www.bayeradvanced.com/garden/west-nile-virus/ 2. Hitti, Miranda. "West Nile Fever Worse Than Expected," 3. www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/

What Shoud You Do

The strong will to deeply understand the field and build the business. Kaolin's enthusiastic research on feta cheese before and during summer 2001 shows his firm will for success. He went on field and online to search any information about food imports. Furthermore, when he found himself struggling to maintain his pricing structure, he had a major breakthrough – his innovation. He established website Melancholia and started to promote credit sales. 2. Kaolin's knowledge In finance and counting indeed helped him in rising and handling money.He explained his friends who had expressed interest and encouragement about his business and finally rose $40,000 as a capital. With a very limited source of capital, he made sure to keep up the money flow. Even until now, Melancholy could keep the price low while keep the quality up. 3. Khan's belief and courage. With no savings and precious little knowledge of the import business, Kaolin was brave enough to refuse his Bulgarian winery cont act when it is not beneficial for him. He then worked hard to raise the UAPITA – with some help from his friends, and stopped working at the restaurant.Even though the first container was a disappointment, he never gave up In overcoming any obstacles. His belief of success attracted other people who also believe in the same thing, and the success Just happened as simple as that. 1. The strong will to deeply understand the field and build the business. Kaolin's enthusiastic research on feta cheese before and during summer 2001 shows his firm will for success. He went on field and online to search any information about food imports.Furthermore, when he found himself struggling to maintain his pricing structure, he had a major breakthrough – his Innovation. He established website Melancholy and started to promote credit sales. 2. Khan's knowledge In finance and accounting indeed helped him in rising and handling money. He explained his friends who had expressed interest a nd encouragement about his business and finally rose $40,000 as a capital. With a very limited source of capital, he made sure to keep up the money flow. Even until now, Melancholy could keep the price low while keep the quality up. Khan's belief and courage. With no savings and precious little knowledge of the import business, Kaolin was brave enough to refuse his Bulgarian winery contact when it is not beneficial for him. He then worked hard to raise the capital – with some help from his friends, and stopped working at the restaurant. Even though the first container was a disappointment, he never gave up in overcoming any obstacles. His belief of success attracted other people who also believe in the same thing, and the success Just happened as simple as that. 1.The strong will to deeply understand the field and build the business. Kaolin's enthusiastic research on feta cheese before and during summer 2001 shows his firm will for success. He went on field and online to sear ch any information about food imports. Furthermore, when he found himself struggling to maintain his pricing structure, he had a major breakthrough – his Innovation. He established website Melancholia and started to promote credit sales. 2. Khan's knowledge In finance and accounting Indeed helped him In rising and handling money.He explained his friends who had expressed interest and encouragement about his business and finally rose $40,000 as a capital. With a very Melancholia could keep the price low while keep the quality up. 3. Kaolin's belief and courage. With no savings and precious little knowledge of the import business, Kaolin was brave enough to refuse his Bulgarian winery contact when it is not beneficial for him. He then worked hard to raise the capital – with some help from his friends, and stopped working at the restaurant. Even though the first container was a spontaneity, he never gave up in overcoming any obstacles.His belief of success attracted other people who also believe in the same thing, and the success Just happened as simple as that. 1. The strong will to deeply understand the field and build the business. Kaolin's enthusiastic research on feta cheese before and during summer 2001 shows his firm will for success. He went on field and online to search any information about food imports. Furthermore, when he found himself struggling to maintain his pricing structure, he had a major breakthrough – his innovation. He established website Melancholia and started to promote credit sales. . Kaolin's knowledge in finance and accounting indeed helped him in rising and handling money. He explained his friends who had expressed interest and encouragement about his business and finally rose $40,000 as a capital. With a very limited source of capital, he made sure to keep up the money flow. Even until now, Melancholia could keep the price low while keep the quality up. 3. Kaolin's belief and courage. With no savings and preciou s little knowledge of the import business, Kaolin was brave enough o refuse his Bulgarian winery contact when it is not beneficial for him.He then worked hard to raise the capital – with some help from his friends, and stopped working at the restaurant. Even though the first container was a disappointment, he never gave up in overcoming any obstacles. His belief of success attracted other people who also believe in the same thing, and the success Just happened as simple as that. 1. The strong will to deeply understand the field and build the business. Kaolin's enthusiastic research on feta cheese before and during summer 2001 shows is firm will for success.He went on field and online to search any information about food imports. Furthermore, when he found himself struggling to maintain his pricing Melancholia and started to promote credit sales. 2. Kaolin's knowledge in finance and keep up the money flow. Even until now, Melancholia could keep the price low while keep the qua lity up. 3. Kaolin's belief and courage. With no savings and precious little Even though the first container was a disappointment, he never gave up in believe in the same thing, and the success Just happened as simple as that.

Britain And France Lost Their Power Of Influence History Essay

After the atomic Bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki ; Stalin began to be leery of America. [ Stalin ] â€Å" aˆÂ ¦his leery character led him astray by imputing to Western authorities aˆÂ ¦ † ( He believed that the Americans wanted to hold an influence in Europe that would rule the communist parts of Europe ; one would believe that this belief would farther act upon his intuition. â€Å" From 1947 on Stalin regarded the consolidation of the two axis and the comparative growing of the US influence in Europe as a foregone decision. † ( Zubok and Pleshakou, Kremlins24 ) Future USSR leaders besides had the same premise of the West ‘s involvement in ruling Eastern Europe. †¦ † he [ Khrushchev ] came to believe that West Germany politicians were utilizing the United States to derive power over GDR and to travel to domination in cardinal Europe. â€Å" ( Zubok and Pleshakou, Kremlins 198 ) â€Å" Stalin ‘s ambivalency seemed progressi vely baleful from Western position, and Washington and London began to look at the Soviet enlargement sanctioned at Yalta and Potsdam in a wholly different visible radiation. â€Å" ( Zubok and Pleshakou, Kremlins, 37 ) The writer show indicates that â€Å" Stalin feared the Americans and the British would ‘renege the Yalta understanding. ‘ † ( Zubok and pleshakou, Kremlins, 41 ) Stalin ‘s overpowering intuition lead to the Occidents on intuition which made them increases their attending on the enlargement of communism in Europe ; through the Yalta and Potsdam conference. There were many miscommunications within the USSR ; which in bend caused them to misinterpret the power and influence of the West. Some of the chief misinterpretations were brought approximately by Litvinov and Molotov who Stalin looked for to acquire accurate information on the West. Litvinov, every bit good as most perceivers, failed to anticipate the nature and way of American ‘s postwar engagement in the universe. In fact, this cognition of the United States led him to the wrong premise that Washington might return to isolationism and withdraw from international organisations. He seemed to believe that it would be much easier for the USSR and Great Britain to come to an â€Å" amicable understanding † about the European colony if the moralistic and expansionist United States would non interfere. ( Zubok and pleshakou, Kremlins,38-39 ) The false information Litvinov provided caused the leaders of the USSR to misinterpret the strength of the West. â€Å" Stalin and Molotov strongly believed that the US- British differences would be acute plenty to forestall their collusion against the Kremlin. â€Å" ( Zubok and pleshakou, Kremlins, 95 ) The concluding papers sent from the Soviet embassy in Washington to Moscow on September 27, 1946, reflected Molotov ‘s thought instead than the positions of the embassador. The United States, the wire said, abandoned its prewar tradition of isolationism and was now driven by the desire for universe supremacyaˆÂ ¦ The American authorities would halt at nil â€Å" to restrict or free the influence of the Soviet Union. â€Å" aˆÂ ¦ The wire pointed out â€Å" a secret understanding † between the Unites States and England â€Å" refering the partial division of the universe on the footing of common grants. ( zubok and Pleshakou, Kremlins, 101-102 ) â€Å" The intelligence from Washington made the Kremlin leaders believe even more that they could destruct western integrity by revenging in West Berlin. â€Å" ( Zubok and Pleshakou, Kremlins107 ) This false information lead the USSR to desire to busy West Germany as a buffer zone to protect USSR and to distribute communism. The Marshall program was created by the Unites States to resuscitate the economic system of Europe. To the USSR the Marshall program was regarded as ; â€Å" The danger of American economic blackmail of Soviet Union ( the potency usage of economic assistance as purchase ) . â€Å" ( Zoubok and pleshakou, Kremlins,104 ) The USSR refused to hold any portion of the Marshall program. â€Å" The absence of the Soviet in Paris, Molotov seemed to believe, would assist worsen the tenseness in the emerging Western axis. â€Å" ( Zubok and Pleshakou, Kremlins,106 ) Many communist believed it was good for the USSR to non hold a portion in the Marshall program. Zhdanov commented that â€Å" Communists will derive nil through peaceable cooperation within coalitionaˆÂ ¦ they may alternatively lose what they ‘ve travel. â€Å" ( Zubok and Pleshakou, Kremlins,131 ) The United States initial purpose of the Marshall program was â€Å" aˆÂ ¦ as they [ USSR ] rapidly learned, was to strip the Soviet Union of its influence in Germany and cardinal Europe. â€Å" ( Zubok and Pleshakou, Kremlins,105 ) The miscommunication with in the USSR caused them to misinterpret the connotations of the Marshall program. The Western powers wanted to stop the influence of communism in Europe and in making so ; â€Å" Western powers and leaders behaved the lone manner they could- as enemies of the Soviet Union and socialist manner of life. â€Å" ( Zubok and Pleshakou, Kremlins,89 ) In order to incorporate the spread of communism the aˆÂ ¦ † British and American business zone would be united into ‘Bizonia, ‘ the U.S military personnels would remain, and the Sovietss would be excluded from control over the Ruhr industry. â€Å" ( Zubok and Pleshakou, Kremlins,100 ) The Unites provinces was rigorous to the containment of communism that â€Å" aˆÂ ¦it made clear that it would non digest a neutralised incorporate Germany that might gravitate towards the Kremlin. â€Å" ( Zubok and Pleshakou, Kremlins,107 ) This made the USSR gain the strength and influence of the West. The Kremlin swayers understood that â€Å" the harder they drove against Western political relations, the more their opposition contributed to the execution of American separationist program in Germany and Europe. â€Å" ( Zubok and Pleshakou, Kremlins,107 ) â€Å" By 1947 it had become crystal clear that the western leaders regarded their cooperation with Stalin during the war old ages as an unfortunate episode that was to be followed by considerable withdrawal. â€Å" ( Zukob and Pleshakou, Kremlins,114 ) Although the USSR still believed that it was owed a batch for its engagement in the war. â€Å" Khrushchev steadfastly believed that the USSR has been wronged, mistreated by the United States after the terminal of the Second World War. â€Å" ( zubok and Pleshakou, Kremlins,182 ) Khrushchev ‘s belief was back up by an proclamation from the TASS. â€Å" On January 13th, 1953 TASS announced that for old ages, there had been a secret plan to assassinate Soviet leaders and that this secret plan was directed by the Western intelligence bureaus † ( Zubok and Pleshakou, Kremlins,114 ) aˆÂ ¦ With this proclamation the USSR felt betrayed by the Allies it had fought with, and sacrificed a batch for. The USSR still felt tha t was to be owed a great trade for its work. â€Å" Two coevalss of Soviet diplomats after him [ Stalin ] believed that the Soviet Union was entitled to particular security agreements in Meleagris gallopavo † ( Zubok and Pleshakou, Kremlins,98 ) aˆÂ ¦ After the decease of Stalin, there were alterations in the regulation of the USSR. Before his decease Stalin ruled USSR with his ain involvement and temper in head ; which were driven by his intuition of the West. â€Å" Most Western analysts felt that the Kremlin ‘s enterprises after Stalin ‘s decease were either new, improved Soviet tactics in engaging the cold war or execution of policy designed to cut down international tensenesss bit by bit. â€Å" ( Zubok and Plshakou, Kremlins,139 ) Khrushchev who was Stalin ‘s replacement ousted Stalin and his signifier of regulation. Khrushchev wanted to â€Å" outfox the ‘dark forces ‘ in the united States- to do them abandon their policies of haughtiness, no acknowledgment, and strength towards the USSR. â€Å" ( Zubok and Plshakou, Kremlins,184 ) The perceptual experience and misperception from the US and the USSR were really of import. They influenced or started the fire of tenseness between the two states that would subsequently on lead to scientific rebellion of atomic arms ; and the cold war. The misgiving, usage of false information, the influence of capitalist economy in states that the USSR wanted to distribute communism, the deficiency of regard and that that the USSR received for assisting the Alliess in the 2nd universe war, and the decease of Stalin and a new leader all lead to the misperception and perceptual experience between the US and USSR which was the starting point of the tenseness between the two states.

Appearance vs. Reality †Comparative Essay Essay

It is all about Looking Good: A Comparison between The Role of Appearance vs. Reality In Macbeth and Frankenstein.  Macbeth is one of the works of playwright William Shakespeare and it is considered one of his most powerful tragedies. It tells the story of a good warrior, Macbeth, who turns bad because of ambition and greed. It is a classic tale of biting more than one can chew. A few centuries later, an author named Mary Shelley wrote a gothic novel, Frankenstein, about a young scientist named Victor Frankenstein who creates a being and abandons it. The creature tries to be accepted by both society and his creator. Although these two texts are of different genres and eras, with Shakespeare’s play showing strong themes of ambition and corruption and Shelley’s novel showing themes of justice, madness and the sublime, both authors use the theme of appearance vs. reality. They use this to show how human judgment is based solely on appearances, how an individual can chang e because of this judgment and how appearance plays a role in determining one’s place in society. It is human nature to judge others on their outward looks. People depend mostly on their visual senses as the strongest point of judgment. For example, in the play Macbeth, Macbeth and his wife deceive the king with their actions and words to make him feel welcome while they are actually planning his murder. (Macbeth I. v). They know that people judge on appearance and decide to use it to their advantage. They act how they want people to see them, as loyal subjects of the king as opposed to deceitful, cunning and ambitious people which was what they really were. As said by Lady Macbeth, â€Å"to [deceive] the time, look like the time.† (Macbeth I. v.70-71). As vision is the primary sense of man, the basis of human judgment is the shape, colour or texture of the overall outward appearance. This determines if something is good or bad. In Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein’s creation had yellow skin, watery eyes and straight black lips. He was not what was considered beautiful (Shelley, 58). The creature looked ugly and vile, and ugly and vile is not considered good so it was judged as bad. Eventually, appearance catches up with reality and an individual could change or become what others think they are because of how they look. The judgment dished out by people can be harmful to both the individual being judged and the ones doing the judging. It can lead to one building up different feelings inside of them. In Macbeth’s case, it led to overconfidence. He started out good; he was a brave and loyal warrior for his country (Macbeth I. ii.30-45). Then he committed a murder to satisfy his ambition to become king (II. ii) and he got away with it because no one could guess from the way he acts the bad intentions he has or the crime he has committed. He goes on killing and still no can tell because everyone keeps judging based on what they see on the outside. Macbeth reaches a point where he decides to let â€Å"the very firstlings of [his] heart be the very firstlings of [his] hand† (IV. i.161-162). By this time, Macbeth has turned into a tyrant and this is harmful to both him and the people of Scotland. Likewise, the judgment dished out for Frankenstein’s creation had a detrimental effect. He was initially compassionate and thoughtful until his naà ¯ve view of humans was destroyed by the unjust cruelty he faced (â€Å"Frankenstein- The Theme of Appearance.† 1). The creature was good but was never given the chance to so much as speak before he was turned away because of the way he looked (Shelley, 108). Eventually, he becomes threatening and malicious because of the hurtful treatment he had to bear (Shelley 148). Wrong judgment can have an effect, as shown in both Macbeth and the creature’s situation. The one difference is that Macbeth was already ambitious but got worse while in the creature’s case, he completely turned around and went from good to bad. In both cases, each individual’s place in society was affected. People are ranked into categories in society. It creates a social hierarchy where everyone knows their place and who they should associate with. There are ways to determine this and appearance plays a role. For example, if there was no predetermined idea of how good things should look and instead morals, intelligence and compassion was emphasized more than one’s outward appearance, Frankenstein’s creature would never have suffered isolation because of his unattractiveness (â€Å"Frankenstein- The Theme of Appearance.† 1). His place in society is at the very bottom because he has no one else who is willing to be associated with him and no one else who is like him. In Macbeth’s case, he was aiming for the highest rank; Kingship. In his time, a  king is considered closest to God and therefore the highest position in social hierarchy. Macbeth kills the king to become king and because no one judged him as capable of committing such an act, but instead judged him on how he appeared to be a loyal subject of the king, he attained the highest position in society. The theme of things not always being as they should be has been used throughout the history of literature. This is shown by Shakespeare and Shelley who wrote in completely different contexts and centuries. They show how judging based on appearances can have an effect on the individual, how the visual sense is man’s strongest sense so judgment is instinctively based on appearances and how the way one looks puts them in their place in society. The prejudice of looking good meaning being good and looking bad meaning being bad has been around for a while and will probably be around for as long as humans are able to see. Works Cited. â€Å"Frankenstein – Theme of Appearance.† 1999. Web. 10 Jan. 2013. Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. 2nd ed. Ken Roy. Toronto: Nelson, 2001. Print. Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. 1818. New York: Penguin, 1992. Print.